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hbgator
Tue 03 Mar, 2009

Foster in the clear after using iPod during final
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LONDON,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> March 2 <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>-<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> The English FA will take no action against Manchester United or goalkeeper Ben Foster for using an iPod during Sundayâ<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>™s League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> it said on Monday.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b><b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Foster watched videos of Spurs players taking penalties on an iPod and then saved from Jamie Oâ<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>™Hara as United lifted the cup after winning the penalty shootout 4-1 following their goalless draw at Wembley Stadium.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b><b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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FIFA president Sepp Blatter has resisted the use of any form of video technology,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> especially to determine if the ball has crossed the goalline,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> for many years.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> But the idea of using an iPod as a tactical aid is new and not against the laws of the game.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b><b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Former Premier League referee Graham Poll told the Daily Mail on Monday that using iPod technology <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>â<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>œhad the potential to exploit a loophole in the laws which should be referred to FIFAâ<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b><b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b><b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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An FA spokesman said:<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>â<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>œWhat happened was not against the rules so we will not be investigating the matter further.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>â<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b><b style="color:#FFA34F"></b><b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Spurs were last involved in a penalty shootout a year ago when they lost to PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Cup.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b><b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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In that game,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Oâ<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>™Hara fired a shot to the left of the goalkeeper and on Sunday he sent Tottenhamâ<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>™s first penalty the same way and Foster saved.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b><b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>â<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>œJust before the shootout I was looking at an iPod with goalkeeping coach Eric Steele and it contained images of Tottenhamâ<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>™s players taking penalties,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>â<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b><b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Foster said.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b><b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>â<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>œThey told me for Jamie Oâ<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>™Hara I should stand up and be strong and he would probably go the way he did.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> I have done a lot of research before but this is an innovation we have brought in at the club.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>â<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b><b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
